Flood response agency denies homeless are missing out

By Murray Silby

Mar 16, 2023

Worn down: Dion Grahame says a lack of an address has been cited by Emergeny Response Victoria as a reason for denying him assistance. Photo by Murray Silby

The Victorian Government body charged with helping people recover from last year’s devastating floods says a lack of an address does not prevent people from receiving assistance.

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Dion Grahame has told the News he was knocked back for assistance by Emergency Recovery Victoria because he did not have an address.

Mr Grahame was living in a tent by the Goulburn River when the floods washed away all his possessions.

“I’ve gone to Emergency Recovery Victoria and they keep rejecting me because my caravan burned down when I was at my mother’s house,” he said

“So then I shifted to the bush and when I shifted to the bush, I didn’t have an address, so they can’t give me temporary accommodation, because I had no previous address.”

A disability pensioner, missing several toes, with bulging discs in his back and limited movement in his left arm, Mr Grahame said the struggle to get by wore him down even further, and he knew of about 20 people sleeping rough in similar circumstances.

But a spokesperson for Emergency Recovery Victoria said the claim was incorrect, saying “everyone, including people who are homeless, are provided with support from ERV and can access a recovery support worker”.

The spokesperson said having an address was not a prerequisite for accessing the agency’s assistance.

“Recovery support workers act as a single point of contact to assist affected people in their recovery by providing trauma-informed service navigation, information and advice, which will include activities such as referring to sources of support (such as financial counselling, mental health or specialist case management supports where appropriate) and supporting people with their short- and long-term housing needs,” the spokesperson said.

The agency also said it “does not comment on individual circumstances”.